Hello all.

I'm putting a feeler out there for a Maple body 5/6 string Alembic. I prefer larger body instrument than the epic and essence. Also would like a comfort taper neck.

Let me know what you have. Thank you!

Still looking. Will consider trades as well if I have something you like.

Guessing you should be looking for an Elan, as they came standard with a maple body, and we've seen them in 5s and 6s. Early Essence had maple bodies too, but probably only as a 5.

All in all it's not like you will find many that will satisfy all your criteria, so honestly you may want to start thinking of a custom build.

... another custom build, obviously. 

There are a couple maple body Alembics on Reverb

Six string Elan

https://reverb.com/item/76226671-alembic-6-string-neck-through

Nice four string series I

https://reverb.com/item/81526427-alembic-series-1-1976-natural

Four string Essence

https://reverb.com/item/81582780-alembic-essence-1992-legno

Five string Essence

https://reverb.com/item/75451115-alembic-essence-5-string

Four string Elan

https://reverb.com/item/78715955-alembic-elan-4-string-pj-bass-1989-royal-blue-gloss

Another four string Elan

https://reverb.com/item/78507528-alembic-elan-4-string-bass-natural

Another four string Essence

https://reverb.com/item/41527908-alembic-essence-1992-natural

Four string Mark king

https://reverb.com/item/24173989-alembic-marc-king-deluxe-2018-natur

Four string Vector

https://reverb.com/item/64309858-alembic-persuader-vector-bass-1988-maple-original-vintage-usa-custom-jazz

procrastinating my morning chores so ill pitch in.  here ya go:

https://reverb.com/item/76226671-alembic-6-string-neck-through

i know nothing about the seller nor can i advise you on the market value.  i hear reverb has become a congress of louts recently so yer on yer own.

i've seen some 5-string maple core essessencesses come and go thru reverb.  the 5 string bodies are much chunkier than their 4-string petite sisters.  i own a 5 string fretless essence (maple core) and it's significantly larger than a 4-string.  fingerboard like a 5-lane freeway.

almost pulled the trigger on this one for a fretted bar-hopper before fate intervened in my life recently.  looks like someone else got it:

https://reverb.com/item/73170477-alembic-essence-5?show_sold=true

i gotta soft spot for maple cores.  owned a couple.  nice snappy sound if yer into that sorta thing.  good luck with yer search.

<edit>  howyadoin, rob  :-) ?

Wondering what your thoughts are about wanting a maple body Alembic? All my Alembics, save the shop night special scrolled series I, have mahogany body cores. I use TI flats on some and rounds on others and really like the tonal differences I get. That Series I with the maple body though...equipped with rounds, it sounded more like a guitar than a bass. When I used it with rounds in one of the bands in which play we were told our sound sounded "thin." Toned down with flats, I (and my band mates) like it much better and its now my go to bass. Of course with an Alembic, the neck construction is also going to make a big difference.

Maple Europa 6 on Talkbass: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/alembic-europa-6.1652701/

Thanks, Flip! I didn't catch that one in the classifieds.

Quote from: FC Bass on June 01, 2024, 09:45:29 AM
Maple Europa 6 on Talkbass: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/alembic-europa-6.1652701/

It maybe my experience owning Pedulla and Spector basses. Mahogany is my first choice. I would like to hear what a maple body Alembic sounds like. The recordings I've heard all sound great.

Quote from: hammer on June 01, 2024, 07:56:19 AM
Wondering what your thoughts are about wanting a maple body Alembic? All my Alembics, save the shop night special scrolled series I, have mahogany body cores. I use TI flats on some and rounds on others and really like the tonal differences I get. That Series I with the maple body though...equipped with rounds, it sounded more like a guitar than a bass. When I used it with rounds in one of the bands in which play we were told our sound sounded "thin." Toned down with flats, I (and my band mates) like it much better and its now my go to bass. Of course with an Alembic, the neck construction is also going to make a big difference.

I bought an all maple europa around 2011 and after finding the right eq settings to tone down the brightness, it's my main gigging bass and sounds amazing even for bottom end heavy genres like reggae. I hope you find the right bass.

I had the same experience with maple body basses. Of course that's without Alembic electronics which are paramount now that I play alembic.

Quote from: jazzyvee on June 01, 2024, 03:13:51 PM
I bought an all maple europa around 2011 and after finding the right eq settings to tone down the brightness, it's my main gigging bass and sounds amazing even for bottom end heavy genres like reggae. Inhope you find the right bass.

Bummer. The Europa in the TB Classifieds is a Mahogany body.

https://club.alembicguitars.net/index.php?topic=27693.msg281506#msg281506

A friend just picked up an Essence 5 string and it didn't feel to small of a body for me. I would consider an Essence. At six string essence would be fun as well.

I was looking at the elan Brian has at his shop. It's a possibility.

Thanks to everyone for posting the links! It's a big help.

Quote from: BeenDown139 on June 01, 2024, 07:41:29 AM
procrastinating my morning chores so ill pitch in.  here ya go:

https://reverb.com/item/76226671-alembic-6-string-neck-through

i know nothing about the seller nor can i advise you on the market value.  i hear reverb has become a congress of louts recently so yer on yer own.

i've seen some 5-string maple core essessencesses come and go thru reverb.  the 5 string bodies are much chunkier than their 4-string petite sisters.  i own a 5 string fretless essence (maple core) and it's significantly larger than a 4-string.  fingerboard like a 5-lane freeway.

almost pulled the trigger on this one for a fretted bar-hopper before fate intervened in my life recently.  looks like someone else got it:

https://reverb.com/item/73170477-alembic-essence-5?show_sold=true

i gotta soft spot for maple cores.  owned a couple.  nice snappy sound if yer into that sorta thing.  good luck with yer search.

<edit>  howyadoin, rob  :-) ?

here's a pretty girl that jsut popped up:

https://reverb.com/item/83126767-rare-1996-alembic-elan-natural-maple-walnut-purple-heart-neck-thru-ohsc

as i've said before, i've got a soft spot for maple core elans.  i had the cocobolo version of this for a coupla years a coupla years ago.  the upside:  when strung with fresh rotos, closest sound i've heard to a series II (imho, ymmv and all that rot). the downside:  one of the most uncomfortable and un-ergonomic instruments i've ever played second only to a mid-70's series I that i owned for a time.  ya gotta have long arms to reach that D-tuner.  not for crowded stages.  finally hadda sell it or have surgery on my right shoulder.  just could not find a playing position that didn't put my right shoulder in a painful position. still i kinda miss that bass

here's a shot of it.  i think i sold it for $2200 about 3 years ago which is about what i had in it.  no LEDs or fingerboard markers.  OHSC.  guess prices have gone up since